Welcome to Wednesday’s Live Blog with Liam Cahill, Simon MacMichael and the rest of the team.
Rohan Dennis ditches sponsors’ bike and helmet as he retains Worlds TT crown; The Mounties always get their … cycling husky?!; More UCI sock height fun; Do you commute in the rain?; Dygert beats 48 of the U23 men in Yorkshire TT + more on live blog
All the news from the site and beyond
Wed, Sep 25, 2019 19:58
SUMMARY
25 September 2019, 19:58
Do you still commute in the rain?
Despite today’s biblical levels of rain, there have still been over 5000 cycling journeys on the Embankment by 7 p.m.
Yes, it’d be higher than that on a sunny day, but it still shows the idea that no one cycles in bad weather is nonsense. pic.twitter.com/ne238dXVzc
— James (@JamesBlurbs) September 24, 2019
Yes, this is the one thing about travelling by bike that isn’t so great. If it’s raining, it’s going to be hitting you.
But as this post shows, in yesterday’s biblical rain, numbers on Embankment were still pretty high!
So, what’s your secret to commuting by bike in the rain?
Pop your helpful hints and any product recommendations in the comments below and we’ll find a pair of road.cc socks for the best/most helpful answer.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Dygart demolishes Women's TT and beats most of the U23 men too
Chloé Dygert
That’s the USA’s 7th gold medal of the Road World Championships#bbccycling pic.twitter.com/ycD0b66dN3
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 24, 2019
Chloe Dygart stormed around the Women’s Elite time trial in Yorkshire yesterday, beating the second-place rider, Holland’s Anna van der Breggen, by a colossal 1 minute 32 seconds.
It’s the largest winning margin in a World Championship time trial since Fabian Cancellara beat Gustav Larsson in 2009 by 1 minute 27 seconds.
Chloe Dygert would have been 12th in the U23 men’s race this morning! Putting away plenty of lads going World Tour next year! #Yorkshire2019
— Jacob Tipper ️ (@JacobTipper) September 24, 2019
As UK Pro Jacob Tipper points out. Dygart’s time would have netted her 12th in the U23 Men’s race earlier in the day.
25 September 2019, 19:58
When the mud's so thick, it takes your shoe.
American Pro Bridget Tooley was racing the UCI World Cup Cyclocross in Waterloo on Sunday. Things didn’t exactly go to plan when a crash saw her BOA shoe dial break.
The heavy mud first removed the shoe and then took her sock as well. That left her to ride on an MTB spd pedal barefoot! Ouch…
The shoe was retrieved, but sadly, the sock is still buried.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Dennis to race TT on blank BMC bike?
Rohan Dennis will start the ITT with a BMC bike with covered trademark. https://t.co/ycv1njIOGG
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) September 24, 2019
After a very public falling out with his Bahrain-Merida team at this year’s Tour de France, defending TT World Champion Rohan Dennis is rumoured to be using a BMC TT bike with no logos for his title defence in Yorkshire.
Rohan Dennis’ Merida Time Warp TT bike – the bike we didn’t see at the TdF
The falling out was apparently due to equipment issues which centred around the frame, skinsuit and wheels that Bahrain-Merida provided Dennis.
What was behind Rohan Dennis’ “reluctant” withdrawal from the Tour de France?
We’ll be keeping a close eye on the race, which kicks off at 13:20.
25 September 2019, 19:58
It's stopped raining in Yorkshire! For now
BREAKING: @UCI_cycling commissaire for measuring sock heigh is measuring something else now pic.twitter.com/ZGrymq57Wq
— ProCyclingStats.com (@ProCyclingStats) September 24, 2019
The standing water is receding so hopefully, we shouldn’t have the farcical scenes of yesterday.
At least everyone’s socks are at the correct length…
25 September 2019, 19:58
Evenepoel isn't a fan of the UCI sock rules then
#Yorkshire2019 – Remco Evenepoel vs sock length rule: he had to pull down socks before start, he pulled them back immediately after start. pic.twitter.com/EQCwIWqhG8
— La Flamme Rouge (@laflammerouge16) September 25, 2019
Immediately after rolling down the start ramp, young Belgian phenomenon Remco Evenepoel showed just what he thought of the UCI’s sock length rule.
Will this get him in trouble? UCI commissaires are famously liberal when handing out the fines.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Contador rides Yorkshire worlds course (virtually)
Here’s Alberto Contador casually throwing down some serious watts in Zwift.
25 September 2019, 19:58
Rohan Dennis switches back to former team's bike and retains World TT title
Rohan Dennis, who abandoned the Tour de France mid-stage on the eve of the individual time trial, reportedly in a row with his Bahrain-Merida team over his equipment and specifically his time trial bike, switched back to a (unbranded) BMC Timemachine today – the same bike he used to win the world title last in Innsbruck last year – and retained the rainbow jersey.
[scald=674003:sdl_editor_representation]
The Australian, who has not ridden for Bahrain-Merida since then, finished 1 minute 9 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel after the 54-kilometre ride from Northallerton to Harrogate.
Filippo Ganna of Italy was another 46 seconds back in the bronze medal position, while Great Britain’s Alex Dowsett finished fifth, 2 minutes 2 seconds behind the winner.
25 September 2019, 19:58
When your mum and dad have both won the rainbow jersey ...
Rohan Dennis and wife Melissa Hoskins’ son wasn’t born when his dad won the world championship time trial in Innsbruck last year – but he was there in his mum’s arms as dad crossed the line to retain his title in Harrogate this afternoon.
Besides the two world championship golds Dennis has won on the road, he also has a brace on the track, both of those in the team pursuit – an event in which Hoskins, who has six silver and bronze medals from the worlds herself, won her own rainbow jersey in 2015.
Anyone want to bet against the nipper earning one in his own right in 20 or so years’ time?
25 September 2019, 19:58
Yorkshire- rainbow country!
Looks what’s just appeared in Harrogate! #Yorkshire2019 pic.twitter.com/4E0IHClXnz
— Ned Boulting (@nedboulting) September 25, 2019
25 September 2019, 19:58
The Mounties always get their … cycling husky?!
The Mounties always get their man, according to the saying – and now they’ve also collared a cycling husky. Or more accurately, a person riding a bike dressed in a dog costume.
CBC reports that after a husky mascot outfit was stolen from the Prince George Humane Society animal charity earlier this month, there have been a number of sightings in Prince George, British Columbia, of someone wearing the costume while riding a bike in the city.
Susan Phillips, a local schoolteacher who spotted the canine cyclist and hadn’t realised the costume had been stolen, told CBC: “I thought of Wile E. Coyote. This is downtown Prince George. You never know what you’re going to see. So I smiled and kept driving.”
The outfit for the charity’s mascot – named Chance, and who appears at events to help raise funds for it – would cost between $3,000 and $5,000 to replace, but public sightings helped the Royal Canadian Mounted Police track it down on Sunday.
RCMP Corporal Sonja Blom said: “A female was arrested at that time; however, she has been released without charge pending further investigation.”
25 September 2019, 19:58
Rohan Dennis ditches team sponsors' bike and helmet to retain world TT title
Any doubt that Rohan Dennis has burnt his bridges with Bahrain-Merida – his last race for them was when he disappeared mid-stage at the Tour de France on the eve of the individual time trial in Pau – dissipated today when he rode a BMC Timemachine bike and sported a Kask helmet as he retained his time trial title at the UCI Road World Championships in Yorkshire this afternoon.
Merida, of course, are the UCI WorldTour outfit’s bike sponsor, while Rudy Project supplies its helmets and eyewear. But the ex-BMC Racing rider – who rode its Timemachine to the rainbow jersey in Innsbruck 12 months ago – stuck with the same model of bike, without decals but fooling absolutely no-one – as he triumphed in Harrogate this afternoon.
That’s given rise to a rather unusual situation in which Bahrain-Merida have not acknowledged one of their riders winning a rainbow jersey this afternoon (it’s pretty safe to say that the Australian will be elsewhere next year), their last tweet being to wish Antonio Nibali, also on his way out as he heads to Trek-Segafredo with brother Vincenzo, a happy birthday on Monday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
It's @AntonioNibali's birthday.
Let's celebrate together!
#RideAsOne pic.twitter.com/bMs4VmdsAU— Team Bahrain Merida (@Bahrain_Merida) September 23, 2019
Meanwhile, over on BMC’s Instagram account …
25 September 2019, 19:58
What’s going on with Rohan Dennis and his bike choice at the World Championships (and his helmet too)?
We investigate what the hell is going on with Rohan Dennis riding a BMC time trial bike rather then the Merida of this team Bahrain-Merida’s sponsor.
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Son of a Marathon runner, Nephew of a National 24hr Champion, the racing genetics have completely passed him by. After joining the road.cc staff in 2016 as a reviewer, Liam quickly started writing feature articles and news pieces. After a little time living in Canada, where he spent most of his time eating poutine, Liam returned with the launch of DealClincher, taking over the Editor role at the start of 2018. At the weekend, Liam can be found racing on the road both in the UK and abroad, though he prefers the muddy fields of cyclocross. To date, his biggest race win is to the front of the cafe queue.
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Latest Comments
kinderje 52 minutes ago
@Rendel Harris Agree, I am baffled that the 84 year old who is now banned from driving for year can then start driving again without a retest. We should be re-tested regularly.
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@mitsky Just checking the figures and apparently the 2026 average cost is £58,000 per year per prisoner; worth noting that is only the direct cost, you then have to factor in ten years of lost tax income from the prisoner, ten years that the prisoner is making no contribution to society as a worker or as a consumer, plus the fact that if they were the primary breadwinner very likely the costs will include benefits for their family as well. None of which should be a reason for keeping violent recidivists out of prison of course, nor drug/drink drivers who kill, but it is a factor worth considering for lower-level offences.
Rendel Harris 2 hours ago
@Surreyrider I ride in Surrey a fair bit and absolutely many do look like that but the point is they all *think* they're driving perfectly reasonably (as one discovers when remonstrating with someone who's skimmed one by 30cm, "I gave you masses of room") so deterrent penalties have little effect. That's why we need to strike at the root cause and actually train drivers properly and test them stringently (and more than once over the course of a potential 70+ years of driving, it's absolutely absurd that competence and knowledge in what for most people is the activity in their life that will run the biggest risk of killing people you never have to have your qualifications renewed).
Rendel Harris 3 hours ago
@mitsky Imprisonment currently costs over £50k p.a. per prisoner and obviously that will rise over the course of a ten-year stretch with inflation. Regarding culpability and mitigating sentences etc, of course I'm not against condign punishment for drivers who kill (and cyclists on the tiny, tiny handful of occasions when this happens), including prison as appropriate; I was objecting to the ridiculous and oft-repeated demand of MM that drivers who kill cyclists must get ten years, "no excuses, no exceptions".
Blackthorne83 6 hours ago
Hey, but their wool blend cycling adjacent t-shirts are/were fantastic.
RoadYeti 7 hours ago
@Surreyrider Still the boss. Ride one, you'll see why
chrisonabike 11 hours ago
@Smoggysteve "Most would happily ride on the roads and be treated with respect by drivers". But people aren't - and as far as I can see they won't be. Not until there is a lot less driving and it's slower around cyclists, and far more people driving have "skin in the game" eg. they sometimes cycle and their friends and family do also. That's what leads to the model - which is perhaps most advanced in NL - where cycling, walking and driving are all seen as separate normal transport modes. Their needs, vulnerabilities and any dangers to others are considered. And *that* leads to "mix / share when possible, separate when necessary". But "possible" is "where your 10-year old would be safe to cycle unsupervised" - so very few motor vehicles, going slow! And AFAICS everybody - even "existing cyclists" - is happy with the result. (I dunno about a few pro cyclists - but don't they tend to have training camps in different counties anyway?)
chrisonabike 11 hours ago
@quiff as an Edinburgh resident I can confidently say he's speaking without moving his lips in one sense: - while as I noted in a separate comment there *is* now some real separated cycle infra, all the examples i can think of have *at least as much space* for pedestrians. The rest of the "cycle infra" is essentially similar to the situation in the rest of the UK: eg. bus lanes*, cycle lanes and shared use paths (eg. "build" infra by sticking up a sign). Edinburgh is one of the places with a moderately extensive network of former railways which have been converted to "shared use" paths (completely motor traffic few). However though shared they are not narrow by UK standards. And this is all effectively a "free extra" for all non- motorised users, not like the "sign a cycle path" where pedestrians do lose space. I think this all comes from the "popular understanding" of cycling in which ultimately cyclists are the "other". They don't fit "motor vehicle" or "pedestrian" (including wheelchairs on the very rare occasions people think about that). Thus "cyclists are cheating" in multiple ways! They shouldn't get their own space as "there aren't enough" of them. And "they can just use the road / path". But being able to *choose* "on the road" or "on the footway" (shared use path) is clearly unfair - nobody else gets to do that! BUT of course even if they did pick just one of road OR pedestrian space it's still not fair anyway because they're "too slow" for the road (don't pay "road tax" etc...) and "far too fast" for pedestrians... * Though some existing cyclists may appreciate them when there are few buses, buses and bikes are a very poor mix for several reasons.
mikecassie 11 hours ago
Whilst a shame for any employees, their bib shorts had the worst chamois pad I’d ever encountered, utter waste of my money. Even though they were Strava challenge discount purchases, still a waste of money.
ktache 12 hours ago
Thanks, just going to have to suck it up. Got next week off and will take the easy, if expensive option...
24 thoughts on “Rohan Dennis ditches sponsors’ bike and helmet as he retains Worlds TT crown; The Mounties always get their … cycling husky?!; More UCI sock height fun; Do you commute in the rain?; Dygert beats 48 of the U23 men in Yorkshire TT + more on live blog”
Commuting in rain? Why would
Commuting in rain? Why would you not when the alternatives are so horrid? It’s only water.
Wet commuting tip? Have
Wet commuting tip? Have somewhere dry and warm to dry your kit before home time. Nowt worse than putting wet kit back on (I suppose climate breakdown or Nuclear armageddon are worse, but you know what I mean). Mudguards are essential, even the strap on type are better than nothing. Use lights even in the daytime when it’s raining (some would advise lights all the time anyway). A peaked cap (casquette) is great for keeping the rain off your glasses – if it stops then just flip the peak up, hipster style!
Another hint – staying warm is more important than staying dry (but both is better!), so windproof tops and merino where possible.
Thank you ‘Gods of the
Thank you ‘Gods of the Internet’ for the fungal toenail cream ad immediately below that one shoe off story.
As @geomannie 531 says, it’s
As @geomannie 531 says, it’s only water. I’m only ever an hour away from dry clothes. If I get soaked on the way in, I hang my kit in front of air conditioner outlets on the building opposite. I can access from our basement, hang up so it’s covered from above and hey presto the hot air dries my kit by lunchtime.
Praise the God of Full
Praise the God of Full Mudguards. I don’t wear waterproofs as I get too hot. I wear technical clobber, designed for running, that dries out really quickly.
It’s not the rain that’s the
It’s not the rain that’s the problem, it’s the standing water from poor drainage , hidden potholes and grief from riding more primary to avoid the gutters that puts you off!!
lllnorrislll wrote:
This.
I don’t care how wet I get but I don’t like the feeling of being unable to avoid a big patch of standing water wondering what lurks beneath.
I actually like the ‘epic’ feeling of powering along in the rain. Feels fast.
PRSboy wrote:
This.
I don’t care how wet I get but I don’t like the feeling of being unable to avoid a big patch of standing water wondering what lurks beneath.
I actually like the ‘epic’ feeling of powering along in the rain. Feels fast.— lllnorrislll
“Epic” plus “what lurks beneath”
The problem with commuting in
The problem with commuting in the rain isn’t getting wet, it’s that motorists forget how to drive, and that the P fairy will inevitably visit. I’ve only ever had her visit in the rain and swapping a tube by the side of Bethnal Green Road in sheeting rain is a less than enjoyable experience.
jollygoodvelo wrote:
Same goes for any extreme weather. I have studded tyres for when it’s icy, but I fear the numpties skating around in their rear wheel drive cars with summer tyres.
jollygoodvelo wrote:
Have you noticed they seem to drive more quickly in wet weather? It’s almost like they enjoy they swishing sound of water under their tyres. Bizarre.
dobbo996 wrote:
No I haven’t, ever.
Office drying facilities are
Office drying facilities are a bit lacking here, so I take at least a spare pair of dry shorts and socks in my bag.
Spare socks and pants at work
Spare socks and pants at work. And newspaper to stuff into the bike shoes.
The bridleways I have been recently riding go up and down a bit, and many had become stream beds earlier in the day and had been stripped back to rocks and even the chalk base. With occasional deeps sections of mud and silt. It had been a relatively dry late summer and early autumn, up until this week.
I drop a gear or two and a few mph in the rain, more so in the really heavy stuff. But sealed away in their protected metal boxes many motorists seemingly do not adjust their driving style. Forgetting their vision is somewhat impared, especially their side windows and mirrors. Let alone braking distance and grip on the road.
I too have spiked tyres, and the level of traction is phenomenal, and it is the behaviour of the motorists that is truely terrifying when the roads become covered in snow and ice.
I commuted in to work by bike
I commuted in to work by bike today ( as I do most of the days I work ) the rain was about the worst I can remember, in many years, but it was very mild ( 15 degrees Celsius or there abouts ) so it certainly didn’t stop me. Getting wet doesn’t bother me, getting wet and cold, bothers me. As long as you wear enough clothing to stop you getting a chill, that’s really the key thing. A lightweight jacket, some covers for my shoes ( it’s not cold enough for full boots yet ) and a pair of Neoprene gloves, and job’s a good’un. My stuff dries out in the heated lockers we have at my place of work, so it will be dry by the time I leave.
We are lucky to have lockers,
We are lucky to have lockers, shower area and drying cupboard so no reason not to cycle in really. Apart from the numpties on the road. The rain has meant traffic has been worse the last few days as people who would have walked, cycled or used public transport decide driving is better. Had a real close near miss where a car decided to change lanes right as I went past with no indication or warning. The video evidence is currently winging its way to WMP via their dashcam portal as we speak (Although I don’t know if they do anything with them).
If it’s cold and wet, then
If it’s cold and wet, then waterproof socks such as Sealskinz are great, usually wear a thin pair of wool socks underneath. I find covers really fiddly to get on/off, which is time consuming for a commute. The waterproof socks means I can use my shoes for a bit longer before resorting to winter boots.
To master Dennis jnr, Please
To master Dennis jnr, Please refer to rule #16
Respect the jersey
I just put a smile on my face
I just put a smile on my face before I go out the door. It usually stays on my face as I get wetter, because there is no point sulking. The smile gets broader as I pass vehicles waiting for traffic lights to change and queueing at roundabouts. Then, once at work I joke with collegues about the sodden state of me and answer their teasing comments of not buying a car.
This is really all true. I find riding in the rain truely exhilarating, even when dark. The worst thing about wet weather riding is not having mudguards. I hate the feeling of the inner legs getting wetter than my torso, but apart from that, a smile, good lights and kit; away you go!
Pushing50 wrote:
Just a smile to fend off the rain you say? Maybe some road.cc socks will make that smile even bigger?
Check your email!
Don’t mind getting rained on
Don’t mind getting rained on during the return trip but don’t like it on the way there. If its raining when i get up I’ll drive. My waterproof stuff is boil in the bag so pointless really.
Looking out of window now……car.
I do a short commute (about 2
I do a short commute (about 2 miles) to the station in all weathers, but if it’s raining then I don’t bother doing the full commute home (about 22 miles) and instead get the train back. I just don’t enjoy riding in the rain.
Husky on a bike? Is this going to spawn some new kind of cycle pursuit race? Whatever next – squirrels playing chess?
Chloe Dygert proves that hi
Chloe Dygert proves that hi-tech isn’t needed to win Gold.
How refreshing to hear that she left her power meter at home and went on “feel”. Coppi, Anquetil and Merckx didn’t use one either to name a few. Hayley Simmonds said that she would need to review her numbers as they were good, yet her performance time did not seem to match up! So, there we have it! Chapeau Chloe! Your “gut feel” put 92 seconds into your world-class competitors.
So, stick on some Old Dunlop high pressure tyres on 27.5 steel rims and go out and learn to understand what your body is saying rather than looking at your screen.
Concorde CX, Bonjour! Que pense tu?
Numbers, numbers, numbers!
Numbers, numbers, numbers! Power in Watts, Calories in grams of food, Weight in Kilograms, Torque in NewtonMeters, cadence in RPM, and inclines in %!
No wonder Mental Health doesn’t get talked about, there’s no time left.
In a recent issue of Cycling plus the editor(?) wrote a small frontispiece which mentioned somewhere that he still needed to lose a few kilos in order to…. I can’t remember what. This was posted next to a picture of the author proudly stood by his bike in his cycling gear.
What’s my point? Well, he didn’t look overweight! In fact many would be proud to look as lean as he did! Suddenly, I recognised myself. I too strive to lose a few kilos. I too am about the same height and weight as the editor. Rubbish, we are exhibiting a dangerous trend of body dysmorphia. This is a Mental Health issue and should not be being promoted by anyone. Look at some of the world-class athletes. They are exceptional individuals. Most of us are not. Especially those of us pushing on in years. No, I am not recommending obesity. Your survival in hospital with illness is generally acknowledged as better if you have a little extra covering.
Exceptional athletes push their bodies to extremes. Look closely, do they look well? Do they look relaxed? When Wiggo won the TdF in 2012 I reckon he looked ill. Now he’s put the weight back he looks well, at least physically! Starving yourself to look good or perform better athletically is irrational and a perfect example of short-termism. There is a price to pay and that may involve those around you as they take care of you! I welcome your thoughts.